244 INVESTIGATION" OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



"December 7, 1909. This letter from the 'bureau,' dated December 16, 1909, and 

 signed by Barton W. Everman, urges Bowers to send agents to New York, there to 

 'educate' the Camp Fire Club and induce them to agree to the 'bureau's idea of 

 renewing the lease,' as follows: 



"Exhibit No. 6. 



"Department op Commerce and Labor, 



"Bureau op Fisheries, 

 " Washington, December 16, 1909. 

 "The Commissioner: 



"The Washington Star of December 10 last announced that the Camp Fire Club, of 

 New York, had inaugurated a campaign to save the fur-seal herd through legislation 

 designed to prevent the re-leasing of the sealing right, the cessation of all killing on 

 the islands for 10 years except for natives' food, and to secure the opening of negotia- 

 tions with Great Britain to revise the regulations of the Paris tribunal. As the result 

 of this movement, on December 7 three resolutions were introduced by Senator Dixon, 

 of Montana, one of which embodies the provisions before mentioned, the other two 

 calling for the publication of fur-seal correspondence and reports since 1904. 



"As the object of this movement is at variance with the program of this bureau and 

 of the recommendations of the advisory fur-seal board, notably in the plan to prevent 

 killing and the renewal of the seal island lease, the advisability is suggested of having 

 Messrs. Townsend, Lucas, and Stanley-Brown use their influence with such members 

 of the Camp Fire Club as they may be acquainted with with the object of correctly 

 informing the club as to the exact present status of the seal question and of securing 

 its cooperation to effect the adoption of the measures advocated by this bureau 1 



"The attached letter is prepared, having in view the object stated. 



"Barton W. Evermann. 



"Exbibit No. 7. Being the official letter of 'George M. Bowers, commissioner,' to 

 Secretary Commerce and Labor, dated February 8, 1910, inclosing copies of three 

 letters, all urging renewal of the seal lease and giving the reasons of the writers for 

 such renewal, to wit, H. H. Taylor, president N. A. C. Co. (lessees), dated January 

 27, 1910; C. H. Townsend, for 'fur seal advisory board,' dated January 31, 1910. 

 Alfred Fraser, London agent for the N. A. C. Co. (lessees), January 28, 1910, as follows: 



X. When Cleveland replaced Harrison, March 4, 1893, it became 

 necessary to put a Democrat in the place of chief special agent in 

 charge of the seal islands, Joseph Stanley-Brown. 



So Joseph B. Crowley was appointed chief; First Assistant Agent 

 Murray, Republican, was dropped for James Judge, a Democrat; but 

 the lessees were careful of then man, Murray. They had him made 

 a salmon fishing inspector for Alaska, without a moment's loss of 

 tune. 



Then when McKinley came in, March 4, 1897, it was in turn neces- 

 sary to drop Crowley, Democrat, and back came the subservient 

 Murray to the office of chief special agent. 



Murray died in Colorado October, 1898, and was succeeded by 

 John M. Morton, who was as subservient in turn as Murray had been. 

 Morton died on St. Pauls Island July, 1900, and he was succeeded by 

 one W. J. Lembkey, as chief, who has been equally subservient to the 



1 Committee on Expenditures in the 

 Department of Commerce and Labor, 



House of Representatives, 

 Friday, June 9, 1911. 



The committee met at 10 o'clock a. m., Hon. John H. Rothermel (chairman) presiding. 



TESTIMONY OF MR. GEORGE M. BOWERS, COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



Mr. Bowers. No new lease was made, but the killing was done under governmental supervision. 

 Mr. Townsend. You will be questioned about that later. After the first suggestion of this bill you know 

 of no efforts that were made to delay the passage of that legislation? 



Mr. Bowers. I know of no effort that was made to delay the passage of that legislation. 

 Mr. TOWNSEND. And if any evidence should be introduced to the contrary, it would surprise you? 

 Mr. Bowers. So far as I am concerned it would, yes; and as far as I am concerned it would the Bureau 

 of Fisheries and the department. (Investigation of fur-seal industry of Alaska, p. 73.) 



